Skyport Virgo 1 - Refuge (5 page)

"No need for that." Pike made a dismissive gesture. "It's about respect."

Laleh smiled. "I think mutual respect would be a good foundation for a marriage."

"So you're accepting?" His green eyes searched her face.

Laleh inhaled deeply and nodded. "Yes. I am."

A wide grin curved Pike's mouth. "Okay." Suddenly all business, he started ticking off to-dos. "We'll have to visit the marriage office on base first get the necessary forms.

You'll need a medical exam. I'll have to make arrangements for you to board the ship as soon as possible. We'll have to have your things packed up, too.”

Laleh's head spun. "Why so rushed? I have eight days on my visa."

Pike looked as if he'd just remembered something important. "I ship out on Friday morning to Skyport Virgo for a twenty-four month command there."

"Oh." Laleh deflated at that bit of news. "And where is Skyport Virgo?"

"Delanian Galaxy."

"That's quite far away, isn't it?"

"Yes." He frowned. "Is there a problem?"

Laleh shrugged. "I'd hoped to find employment soon. After I graduate tomorrow afternoon, I'll lose my graduate stipend and will need an income."

"Skyport Virgo is a rather busy outpost, one of the largest in the fleet, actually. I'm not quite certain which departments operate out there, but I'd assume there's some kind of research in a field similar to yours. If not, you might undertake your own project. I'll support you until you find something."

"I suppose," Laleh said uncertainly. The idea of relying on Pike for monetary support didn't sit entirely well with her. She hoped to find a position of some kind as quickly as possible.

"We'll work out the details later." Pike rose from the bed. "I'm going to get dressed.

We'll have breakfast and head out, all right?"

"Sure." As Pike returned to the bathroom, Laleh couldn't prevent her eyes from drifting to his taut backside. The grey cotton hugged his trim hips and buttocks so nicely.

Laleh had the shocking urge to reach out and give them a swat.

Oh God! Get a grip!

Laleh buried her face in her hands. What had she just done? Had she really just agreed to marry a man she hardly knew for naturalization papers? She glanced around her still messy room. For years, she'd desperately wanted to leave this dump but now, faced with the reality of such a move, she wasn't so sure. This place was one of the last tangible ties to her mother.

And could she be happy living on a space station for fourteen months? Other than Pike, she wouldn't know anyone. Starting over was hard to do at the best of times but under her current stress level? Laleh shuddered at the thought of making new friends and finding a new job and adjusting to married life.

What would happen when they reached the end of their fourteen months? Did Pike intend to cut her loose or keep her around? Would she want to stay or make a run for the nearest divorce court? Laleh hadn't the foggiest idea. Pike struck her as the type of man she could easily fall head over heels for which meant he could just as easily break her heart.

"Second thoughts?" Neat and tidy in his uniform, Pike leaned against the door jamb and regarded her carefully.

If there was ever a time to change her mind it was now.

Laleh shook her head. "No."

Pike grinned. "Then, let's get moving. We've got a lot to accomplish today."

Feeling a little nervous, Laleh slid off the bed and prepared to greet her destiny.

* * * *

Pike paced the hallway outside Melanya's office, his boots squeaking against the polished marble. After swinging by his temporary quarters to change, he'd left Laleh at the sick bay under the care of a friend while he dealt with his morning meetings. He'd had the necessary forms sent to her transmitter. Hopefully she'd have her injuries seen to and her medical exam squared away.

The soft tap of footsteps drew his attention. Pike pivoted to see Laleh striding toward him, the vibrant purple fabric of her tiered dress fluttering against her legs. Gold bangles jingled with every swing of her bare arms. Her brown waves curled around her shoulders.

The thin straps and low neckline of her dress displayed a few tantalizing glimpses of her cleavage. Pike didn't miss the breakneck stares of the Spacefleet staff lining the corridor.

Annoyed, he strode out to meet her as if staking his claim. All eyes averted the second he took her arm.

Laleh smiled up at him. "Sorry I'm late. I got lost. Everyone speaks in abbreviations!"

Pike chuckled. "I should have sent someone to escort you."

She shrugged. "It was sort of fun, like a mini-adventure." Laleh gestured to her face.

"Your friend, Dr. Karp, slathered some strange tingly gel on my bruises and lips. What do you think?"

Pike studied her now unblemished skin. He brushed his fingers against her cheek.

"You look beautiful."

Laleh smiled shyly. "Thanks."

Feeling the interested stares of the staff, Pike dropped his hand and cleared his throat. "Melanya is expecting us."

Laleh's eyebrows arched. "Melanya?"

Pike caught her interested tone as he steered her toward the door. "Commander Pavlovskya," he corrected.

"An old friend?"

"Something like that," he muttered, following her through the door automatic doors.

"Uh-huh." Laleh shot him a mischievous glance.

Before Pike could utter a smart retort, Melanya wandered out of a side office, her black uniform crisply tailored to her willowy form. He noticed she'd cut her saffron red hair since the last time he'd seen her. The sharp edges of the diagonal bob touched her jaw. Beaming, she approached them. She stopped short and stood at attention, lifting her right hand in a salute. Pike returned the gesture and they exchanged the required niceties.

"Commander Pavlovskya, Laleh Sarafpour. Laleh, Commander Pavlovskya."

"Nice to meet you," Laleh said as they shook hands.

"And you," Melanya replied. "Come inside." She gestured with a manicured hand toward her office.

Pike led Laleh into the sparsely decorated room and pulled out her chair. Once she was seated, he sat next to her.

As Melanya settled behind her desk, she shook her head with disbelief. "I was stunned to see your message come across my desk this morning, Grayson. Getting married!"

Pike grinned and shot Laleh a playful glance. "Took us by surprise too."

Melanya leaned forward, obviously curious. "Whirlwind romance?"

"You could say that," Laleh replied.

Melanya offered an amused smile. "Let me just pull up your forms." She tapped the touch-sensitive screen inlaid in her desktop. "Do you remember when Tyson married that Venusian girl? That was a whirlwind romance that took us all by surprise."

"That is was," Pike agreed. "As was yours," he added pointedly.

Melanya shook her head. "It just looked that way. Pilar and I had been dating secretively for months. Seven, actually," she said. "So everything looks good here. Your record," she eyed Pike, "is impeccable. Laleh passed her medical exam with flying colors.

Other than a small blip about an arrest for a prank gone awry, Laleh's criminal record is clean."

Pike glanced at Laleh who squirmed uncomfortably. She gave him a tiny shrug. He sent her a look that conveyed he wanted to hear all about her arrest later.

"Hmmm," Melanya murmured. "Now what's this?"

Pike's attention flicked to his friend's face. Brow furrowed, she moved through various screens and quickly tapped the illuminated keyboard. "What's wrong?"

"Seems Laleh has a deportation order awaiting execution." Melanya gave them a questioning look. "Anything I should know?"

Laleh sighed loudly and launched into a bare bones explanation of the problem at hand. Pike judged Melanya's expression as she listened intently to Laleh's story.

"Over my dead body," Melanya declared as Laleh finished her tale.

Relief flooded Pike. "So you understand our urgency?"

"Absolutely," Melanya replied, her fingers flying over the keyboard. "The earliest I can get you in front of a Justice of the Peace is tomorrow morning at eight sharp. I can try to make some calls and trade some favors to get you in later this afternoon but I can't promise anything."

"Tomorrow morning is fine." Pike made mental notes to rearrange his staff meetings.

"Will Laleh have any issue receiving her new spouse visa?"

"No," Melanya replied. "She's still legally clear to reside here on Earth. We just have to make sure she isn't picked up and tossed onto a deportation vessel between now and tomorrow morning. Once she's in the custody of Immigration, it will be difficult to spring her before you depart on your next mission."

Pike frowned. "I have to overnight on my new ship, make sure it's in tiptop shape before we head out on Friday morning. I can't bring her with me."

Melanya directed her attention to Laleh. "Have you got some place you can lay low until tomorrow morning?"

Laleh chewed her lower lip. "Most of my friends live in Delta Sector. Do you think it's unsafe to go back there?"

Melanya pulled a face. "I wouldn't risk it. Tell you what." She sat forward, "Why don't you stay with us—Pilar and me—tonight?"

"I wouldn't want to intrude," Laleh said.

Melanya laughed. "Are you kidding me? I love having houseguests because it gives me a chance to show off my cooking skills. Besides, I think you and Pilar will hit it right off. She's a xenolinguist. With your educational background, I'm sure the two of you will have oodles to talk about."

"Well," Laleh wavered, "if you're sure."

"I won't take no for an answer."

"All right." Laleh assented with a smile. She turned to Pike. "What about my things?"

"I'll find someone to head over and box up your belongings." He sensed her unease and grabbed her hand. "I'll make sure they get to you in one piece."

As Laleh squeezed his hand, Pike turned back to Melanya, catching the smirk on her face. "Watch it, Commander."

Melanya twittered cheekily at his teasing reproach. "I didn't say a thing." She tapped her screen again. "If you two will just apply your thumbprints, we'll be all finished here."

Pike rose and pressed his thumb to the screen. Laleh joined him and applied her print. With a few quick chirps, the computer processed and approved their request. "That was quick," Pike said, somewhat surprised at how easily they'd accomplished their mission.

"Cold feet?" Melanya teased as she closed out the program.

Pike sent a sideways glance to Laleh. Any normal man faced with marrying a woman he'd known for less than twenty-four hours would have been an absolute wreck. Just looking at her, a sense of calm pervaded his belly. Somehow he just knew he was doing the right thing.

Pike shook his head and grabbed Laleh's hand. "Not at all."

Curled in the corner of the plush sofa, Laleh threw her head back and laughed as Pilar regaled her with tales of her first deployment. As she sat there, sipping wine and enjoying her hosts' company, Laleh couldn't believe she'd been so hesitant to accept their offer for a night's stay. She'd never met two more welcoming and friendly people. A scrumptious dinner, good wine, and intelligent conversation—had she really considered passing this up to hide out in a dingy hotel?

"So you had a chance to look over the schematics for Skyport Virgo?" Pilar asked as she topped off Melanya's third glass of Shiraz.

Laleh nodded. "Pike took me over to the information center where they have all these holographic representations of the various ships and skyports for the public to see.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised by just how big Virgo is."

"It's the second largest in the fleet," Melanya interjected. "It's the newest too. Pike's assignment to Virgo is a definite reflection of his standing in Spacefleet."

Laleh hummed in agreement. Touring Spacefleet headquarters with Pike had given her a little more insight into the man who was about to become her husband. Not counting the required snaps to attention, the cadets, enlisted, and officers all treated him with that kind of adoring admiration usually reserved for heroes. Their respect for Pike was clearly evident in their tones of address. The cadets, especially, seemed almost weak-kneed when Pike spoke to them. She'd never seen anything like it—and it intrigued her.

Laleh only wished she'd had more time to sneak over to the hall of records to do a little snooping.

"Pike's flagship is new too," Melanya said, scooping her finger through the dollop of raspberry cream stuck to her dessert plate. "The
USS Spica
is sleek and shiny. I had a chance to take a tour a few days ago. I think you'll enjoy your time aboard."

"I'm actually a little nervous," Laleh admitted. "I don't really know anything about military service."

"You won't be the only civilian onboard the
Spica
," Pilar assured her. "I know there's a small detachment of ambassadors hitching a ride on the ship. And once you reach Virgo, you'll be surrounded by a good number of civilians involved in all departments of the Skyport. I think you'll find it easy to make friends and even develop a few professional relationships."

"That's good to know." Laleh's worries eased. "I'm hoping to find a position of some kind once we arrive."

"If you'd like, I can put you in touch with an old classmate of mine, stationed at Virgo," Pilar offered. "He's also a linguist, but I'm sure he'd know if there was anyone looking for an anthropologist with your credentials."

"Sure!" Laleh's enthusiasm colored her voice. "I'd really appreciate that."

Pilar smiled. "No problem."

"So what was the topic of your thesis?" Melanya wondered.

"I studied the effect of female sexuality on the cultural and social practices of three different civilizations: Earth, Hezma-12, and Venusianus. I showed the direct correlation between the richness of a civilization's social, cultural, and even political landscape and the acceptance of women as sexual equals to men. The contrast between extremes—

Venusianus and Hezma-12, specifically—were quite striking," Laleh said.